Philippines’ uniform travel policy adopts DOST’s S-PaSS one-stop-shop app
The Philippines’ travel policy is adopting the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) Travel Management System one-stop-shop app for all travelers as uniform protocols begin to be implemented in all local government units (LGUs).
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) approved on February 26, 2021, the adoption of the S-PaSS developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI as the one-stop-shop application and communication for travelers.
The S-PaSS will be complemented by the StaySafe.ph System as the primary contact tracing system by the government, with other existing contact tracing applications, such as Traze App, needing to be integrated with the StaySafe.ph System.
The S-PaSS, developed by DOST VI initially as a travel management system, was primarily intended to make a hassle-free journey for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs), Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), Emergency Travelers (ETs), and other travelers during this pandemic.
The S-PaSS is also meant to benefit not only the travelers but also the authorities to properly monitor the movement of people in different locations in the effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
This is a convenient and safe way for travelers to apply for Travel Authority (TA) online, without the hassle of long queues, before visiting their local police station where the QR Code can be used to view one’s TA, to register at designated monitoring locations, and track one’s travel history.
For the part of the Philippine National Police, this will be an easier, faster, and integrated process of issuing Travel Authority that can quickly generate real-time reports.
In the case of Local Government Units & Monitoring Agencies, the system will allow real-time monitoring of incoming travelers and provide convenient tracking of travelers by setting up designated monitoring locations and likewise quickly generate real-time reports.
DOT welcomes the approval of IATF uniform travel protocols
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is for the safe reopening of tourist destinations as this allows us to restart our economy and help our tourism workers regain their jobs. The Department therefore welcomes the approval of uniform travel protocols for all local government units (LGUs) by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to facilitate travel movement and promote local tourism.
The DOT deems the simplification of requirements as vital in encouraging domestic travel and helping in the speedy recovery of Philippine tourism.
The DOT also defers to the decision of LGUs to require tests before travel. For those requiring RT-PCR tests, the subsidized program in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) will help reduce costs and encourage travel.
Meanwhile, the DOT reminds tourists and stakeholders of the need to still strictly ensure minimum health and safety protocols such as wearing of a mask and face shield, physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and booking or operating in DOT-accredited establishments, among others to protect both the tourists, tourism workers and the residents of host communities.
Relatedly, the DOT will continue to develop minimum health and safety guidelines for the tourism sub-sectors to prepare LGUs in the safe reopening of their destinations.
This innovative system has a local mobility feature that replaces the use of pen-and-paper or logbooks. It can also be used to document and monitor border crossings in LGUs. The travelers will be monitored by scanning their unique S-PaSS QR Code every time they visit an establishment and offices. The system will then automatically record information on its eLogBook for recording and monitoring purposes.
Together with the use of S-PaSS, authorities shall still continue to strictly implement the minimum public health standards, such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and the wearing of face masks and face shields across all settings. Clinical and exposure assessment shall be strictly implemented in all ports of entry and exit while health assessment of passengers, supervised by medical doctors, shall be mandatory upon entry in the port/terminal and exit at point of destination.
The DILG, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr), the DOST, and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as the LGUs, shall together ensure the smooth implementation of these protocols.
Travelers and interested parties may email DOST VI at ord@ro6.dost.gov.ph or can call the office at 033-3200908 for more details. For a safe travel and hassle-free journey, register now at www.s-pass.ph.
The IATF-MEID’s new Resolution No. 101 indicates it will no longer require health certificates from Covid-19 testing and quarantine for travelers but instead will defer to LGUs for their requirements. Accepted tests are that of RT-PCR while all ports of entry will continue to exercise the minimum health protocols.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) crafted the uniform travel protocols for land, air, and sea, in close coordination with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.
The Department of Tourism welcomed the adoption of uniform travel protocols and pledged to continue setting up guidelines for the tourism sub-sectors to help LGUs for the reopening to travel.
Source: https://bit.ly/3uVep42
